Heartopia Relic Restoration Guide: How to Find & Restore Ancient Artifacts
Scattered across Heartopia's landscape are ancient dig sites hiding relics from three historical eras. Excavate them, restore them at the Workshop, and donate them to the Museum for permanent farm bonuses — or sell them for gold. This guide covers all 10 collectible relics with exact dig site locations, required restoration materials, timelines, and the rewards you earn for each piece. Whether you are a completionist chasing every Museum Star or a gold-focused player optimizing restoration ROI, this is your complete relic reference.
What Is Relic Restoration in Heartopia?
Relic Restoration is a side system in Heartopia that rewards patient players who explore the map beyond their farm boundaries. Using a Shovel, you dig at designated excavation sites to unearth ancient artifacts from three historical eras: Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern. Each relic is unique and exists only once in the game world, making the collection feel genuinely meaningful.
Once you find a relic, it starts as an "Unidentified" item. The Museum Curator identifies it for free and tells you exactly what restoration materials you need. You then gather those materials and submit everything to the Restoration Workshop, which processes the relic over one to five in-game days depending on the artifact's complexity.
Restored relics can be sold for significant gold or donated to the Museum to unlock permanent bonuses. The Museum organizes relics into categories — Artifacts, Weapons, Minerals, and Household — and completing each category earns you a category-specific farm upgrade that lasts for the rest of your save file. This makes relic restoration one of the most impactful long-term investments in Heartopia.
All 10 Relics: Locations, Materials & Rewards
☀️
Sunstone Idol
Ancient EraDig Site: Ancient Ruins (East Field)
Materials: Stone Chisel x2, Restoration Resin x1, Sand x3
Restoration Time: 1 day
Reward: 300g + Museum Star (Artifacts)
⛑️
Bronze War Helm
Medieval EraDig Site: Cloverfield Meadow (north corner)
Materials: Metal Polish x2, Copper Bar x1, Restoration Cloth x1
Restoration Time: 2 days
Reward: 500g + Defense Charm (wear for +5 HP)
🔮
Crystal Orb
Ancient EraDig Site: Cave Floor 5 (geo-node spawn)
Materials: Crystal Cleaner x3, Soft Brush x1, Glass Sealant x1
Restoration Time: 1 day
Reward: 450g + Museum Star (Minerals)
🪬
Jade Ceremonial Mask
Ancient EraDig Site: Tidal Pools Beach (low tide only)
Materials: Jade Polish x2, Restoration Resin x2, Thread x1
Restoration Time: 3 days
Reward: 700g + NPC Friendship boost with Curator
🏅
Iron Governor's Seal
Medieval EraDig Site: Town Square excavation zone
Materials: Metal Polish x3, Restoration Resin x1, Leather x1
Restoration Time: 2 days
Reward: 550g + Town Development +50 points
🗡️
Obsidian Dagger
Ancient EraDig Site: Volcanic Ridge (unlocked Year 2)
Materials: Stone Chisel x1, Obsidian Polish x2, Soft Brush x2
Restoration Time: 2 days
Reward: 600g + Museum Star (Weapons)
🫖
Porcelain Tea Set
Early Modern EraDig Site: Orchard Hill (southwest slope)
Materials: Porcelain Adhesive x3, Soft Brush x2, Glass Sealant x2
Restoration Time: 3 days
Reward: 650g + Cooking Inspiration buff (+1 recipe unlock)
🧭
Golden Compass
Early Modern EraDig Site: Harbor Docks (dig at broken pier post)
Materials: Metal Polish x2, Gear x1, Restoration Resin x1, Oil x1
Restoration Time: 2 days
Reward: 800g + Map reveal (hidden fishing spot)
🗺️
Ancient Star Map
Ancient EraDig Site: Observatory Plateau (clear brambles first)
Materials: Restoration Cloth x3, Soft Brush x3, Paper Sealant x1
Restoration Time: 4 days
Reward: 1,000g + Lucky Day prediction for next 7 days
🎼
Ivory Music Cylinder
Medieval EraDig Site: Old Manor Basement (requires skeleton key)
Materials: Ivory Polish x2, Gear x2, Restoration Resin x2, Metal Polish x1
Restoration Time: 5 days
Reward: 1,500g + Permanent +10% NPC friendship gain
Step-by-Step Relic Restoration Process
Follow this exact sequence from first shovel purchase to completed Museum donation. Each step is actionable and shows you exactly what to do on which day.
Obtain a Shovel
You need a Shovel to excavate dig sites. The basic Shovel is available from the General Store for 500g starting Day 3. Upgrading to an Iron Shovel (at the Blacksmith for 1,000g + Iron Bar x5) reveals rarer artifacts and speeds up digging time by 30%.
Visit a Dig Site
Dig sites are marked on your map with a small shovel icon once you own a Shovel. Each site has a 60% daily chance to yield a dig fragment and a 15% chance for a complete artifact. Some sites are time-locked: Tidal Pools only spawns relic nodes at low tide (6am–10am in-game), and the Volcanic Ridge is unavailable until Year 2.
Identify Your Find
Dug items appear as "Unidentified Fragment" or "Unidentified Relic" in your inventory. Take them to the Museum Curator NPC to identify them for free. Identification happens instantly, and the Curator will tell you which relic it is and what restoration materials are required.
Gather Restoration Materials
Each relic requires specific restoration materials. Most come from the General Store (Soft Brush, Restoration Cloth) or are crafted at the workbench (Glass Sealant from Sand + Oil). Metal Polish is bought from the traveling merchant who visits every Wednesday and Sunday. Craft or purchase all required materials before visiting the Restoration Workshop.
Submit to the Restoration Workshop
The Restoration Workshop is adjacent to the Museum. Submit your unrestored relic and all required materials. The restoration timer begins immediately and runs in real time (in-game days). You can submit multiple relics simultaneously — each takes its own slot. The Workshop has 3 slots by default, expandable to 5 by donating 5 artifacts to the Museum.
Collect and Donate
When the restoration timer completes, return to the Workshop to collect your relic. You now have two choices: sell it to the General Store for the listed gold amount, or donate it to the Museum. Donating earns you a Museum Star in the relevant category. Earning all Museum Stars in a category (typically 3 stars) unlocks a permanent farm bonus.
Where to Get Every Restoration Material
Most restoration materials are not found by mining — they are purchased, crafted, or obtained through specific actions. Here is the complete sourcing guide for all workshop materials.
| Material | How to Obtain |
|---|---|
| Soft Brush | General Store — 50g each |
| Restoration Cloth | General Store — 80g each; also drops from cleaning the Farmhouse |
| Restoration Resin | Craft at Basic Workbench: Tree Sap x3 + Beeswax x1 |
| Metal Polish | Traveling Merchant (Wed & Sun) — 120g each |
| Stone Chisel | Craft at Basic Workbench: Iron Bar x1 + Stone x2 |
| Glass Sealant | Craft at Advanced Workbench: Glass x1 + Oil x1 |
| Porcelain Adhesive | Buy from Museum Gift Shop after first donation — 100g |
| Jade Polish | Deep cave geode drop (Floor 6+) or Traveling Merchant at 200g |
| Obsidian Polish | Volcanic Ridge mining nodes (Year 2+) |
| Ivory Polish | Museum Gift Shop — 150g; unlocks after donating 3 relics |
| Paper Sealant | Craft at Advanced Workbench: Cotton x2 + Oil x2 |
Museum Category Completion Bonuses
Includes: Sunstone Idol, Jade Mask, Ancient Star Map, Obsidian Dagger
Completion Bonus: +15% excavation speed (permanent)
Includes: Iron Governor's Seal, Obsidian Dagger, Bronze War Helm
Completion Bonus: Unlock the Weapon Display Case decor + +5 max HP
Includes: Crystal Orb + 2 other mineral donations
Completion Bonus: +10% ore yield from mining (permanent)
Includes: Porcelain Tea Set, Ivory Music Cylinder, Golden Compass
Completion Bonus: Unlock rare recipe scroll + +10% NPC friendship gain
Pro Tips for Efficient Relic Hunting
🗓️
Plan Around Lucky Days
Check your in-game calendar for Lucky Days (marked with a star). On Lucky Days, dig site spawn rates increase by 25% and the chance of finding a complete (unbroken) artifact doubles. Save major excavation trips for Lucky Days to maximize your find rate.
🎒
Carry a Restoration Kit
Keep a Soft Brush x3 and Restoration Cloth x2 in your bag at all times. Some relics can be partially field-restored, which reduces Workshop time by 1 day. The field restoration option only appears when you have the right materials in your inventory at the time of digging.
🗺️
Hit Multiple Dig Sites Per Trip
Plan excavation routes that chain 2-3 sites in the same area. The Ancient Ruins, Cloverfield Meadow, and Orchard Hill are all within 5 in-game minutes of each other. A single morning trip can cover all three, maximizing your daily relic chances without extra travel days.
📦
Pre-Stock Restoration Materials
Keep a standing stock of 3 Metal Polish and 5 Restoration Resin at all times — these appear in 7 of the 10 relic recipes. Buy Metal Polish from the Traveling Merchant every visit and craft Restoration Resin on slow farming days so you never wait on materials when a relic drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start relic restoration in Heartopia?
Begin by purchasing a Shovel from the General Store on Day 3 (500g). This unlocks dig site markers on your map. Visit the Museum and speak with the Curator to learn about the restoration system. Your first relic will likely come from the Ancient Ruins dig site in the East Field, which is the closest excavation zone to your farm and has a high spawn rate for common relics.
Can I do relic restoration and farming on the same day?
Yes. Digging at a site costs around 20-30% of your energy depending on the site difficulty. A single excavation trip to the Ancient Ruins takes about 10 in-game minutes. You can dig in the morning, then farm and do other activities for the rest of the day. Submitting materials to the Restoration Workshop is instant and free — it does not consume energy or time.
What is the best relic to restore for profit?
The Ivory Music Cylinder offers the highest sell price at 1,500g, but it requires 5 days of restoration time and rare materials including Ivory Polish. For profit-per-day, the Golden Compass (800g, 2 days) is more efficient at 400g per restoration day. However, donating the Ancient Star Map to the Museum gives a Lucky Day prediction buff worth far more than its 1,000g sell price in passive farming and mining gains.
How many relics can I restore at one time?
The Restoration Workshop starts with 3 simultaneous slots. You can expand to 5 slots by donating 5 total artifacts to the Museum — this expansion is permanent and free. Managing all 5 slots means you can have relics cycling continuously, making restoration a reliable passive income source throughout the game. Plan your material stockpile to keep all slots occupied.
Do dig sites reset every day?
Dig sites have a daily refresh on potential spawns, but each site has a probability-based system rather than a guaranteed spawn. The Ancient Ruins refreshes with a 60% chance each morning. More remote sites like the Observatory Plateau reset only every 3 days but have a higher chance of rare relics when they do spawn. Checking multiple sites in a single trip is efficient once you unlock fast travel.
Is it better to sell relics or donate them to the Museum?
Donate until you have filled each Museum category, then sell duplicates. Filling a Museum category (earning all stars) grants a permanent farm or character bonus worth significantly more than the gold from selling individual relics. For example, completing the Artifacts category gives a permanent +15% excavation speed buff. After unlocking all bonuses, duplicates are best sold for gold.
What happens if I run out of energy while digging?
If your energy drops to zero while at a dig site, your character will automatically return home and sleep, ending the current day. You will not lose any relics already in your inventory, but you will miss the rest of that day. Keep 2-3 Energy Drinks (crafted from Herbs + Sugar at the workbench) in your bag when going on excavation runs to avoid early collapses, especially at deeper or more remote sites.
Related Guides
- Ores & Mining Guide — find the ore veins and geode nodes that supply Crystal, Copper, and other relic materials.
- Crafting & Workbench Guide — craft Restoration Resin, Glass Sealant, Paper Sealant, and other workshop materials at home.
- Make Gold Fast Guide — see how relic restoration fits into the broader gold-making strategy alongside farming and fishing.